Nearly 19 weeks little movement - reassurance?

[Gargula]

Hello,
I am nearly 19 weeks and so far have felt very little movement from baby. I'm getting kinda worried about it as with my first pregnancy I remember I felt A LOT more movement at this stage (he was, and still is, a very active boy!)
We have a doppler and can find a nice strong H/B easily - but still surprised about the lack of movement.
Anyway - can anyone reassure me that this isn't abnormal and that you don't always feel second pregnancies before the first?

Hi Gargula, I'm 18 wks and not feeling much movement at all. This is my third dc and at this stage with the other two, I was feeling it a lot more strongly.

Anyway, I was at the ob/gyn's yesterday so I mentioned it, he said not to worry, every pregancy is different and it will start to become more noticable in the next days and weeks. He did a quick ultrasound and there is obvious movement, just that I can't feel it.

Hi im 21 weeks with my second and was feeling the same as you a week ago! I was due my 20 week scan and was not sure I had felt the baby move at all yet. Anyway I went for my scan and it was all fine and since then the baby hasnt stopped! In fact the day after it was doing somersaults! I was starting to get worried, but just give it a little more time and im sure will happen for you too.

I'm 21 weeks too and exactly the same. I was having conversations with my dh and my mum just before my scan saying i was a bit worried as i couldn't really feel kicking, as ds1 kicked at a similar stage.

Scan all fine and since then, ds2 has been kicking like a trooper - even to the point that dh could feel him for the first time 2 nights ago.

Am sure will all be fine - but so funny that i could have written your op 2 weeks ago.

Try not to worry. How much movement you feel depends on the position of the placenta - a lot of the feeling of movement can be blocked if the placenta is anterior (at the front) for example. I'm about 20 weeks and not feeling much except when I lie down at night.

Hi Gargula

When I was pregnant with my 1st I felt very little movement all the way through to the point that he turned round from the breach position at 37 weeks and I didn't feel a thing! He is now a happy heathy 4 year old into rugby and one of the fastest runners in his class so please don't worry - I'm sure your baby is fine.

Thanks for your messages everyone!
I'm sure you're all right - and hopefully soon this little one will be kicking me just as much as DS did.
I did try and pay attention today to see if I could feel anything - but there's only so much you can feel when your chasing a manic two year old around soft-play!
I have a scan next week so I'll try and relax till then!

From what I've read, it's normal not to feel movements till 22 weeks.

About the Doppler, though - I read a very disturbing article in the NY Times a week or so ago about the dangers of using Dopplers on your own. It told some stories of women who had symptons (like the baby not moving, although at a much more advanced stage of the pregnancy where that would not be normal) and reassuring themselves with the Doppler and not seeking medical help when they should have, sometimes with tragic results. The article explained that these devices are marketed to parents but really you need a lot of training to tell whether a baby's heartbeat sounds healthy or not, or to recognize problems. The advice in the article was that it's fine to use a Doppler as a layperson but it shouldn't be used for reassurance if you are concerned about a symptom you've noticed.

Maybe you do have the medical training your post doesn't say I just wanted to pass that on because it's something I wouldn't have thought of if I hadn't read the article. When in doubt, call the midwife!